(Originally written February 15, 2007 in Book 14)
Pocket Guide to World Religions
Win Corduan
Chapter 2: Baha'i
Name
Baha'i literally means a "follower of Baha" referring to Baha'ullah, the founder of Baha'i.
American Baha'i is represented by the American National Assembly of the Baha'i faith.
Numbers and Distribution
There are more than 6,000,000 members of Baha'i.
Baha'i is represented in over 200 countries, second only to Christianity in 250+ countries.
Baha'i originated in Iran, but most followers are found in Westernized, industrialization areas.
Symbols
The 9-pointed star.
The number nine is extremely important in Baha'i. "Nine represents the diversity (the 'nineness') that is enmeshed within unity (the 'oneness' of the single number)" (Corduan, 17).
Baha'i hopes to show that while there are many ways to God, there is only one God and one truth.
History
Baha'i emerged out of tumultuous times in the Middle East. It began in 1844 in Iran. A pious man declared himself to be a Bab (a gate) through which God communicated his message to the people.
His followers called themselves the Babis. They saw the Bab as the long-awaited Islamic Mahdi.
The Babi movement was immediately eliminated by the government. Many of its adherents including the Bab, were executed.
In 1863 a young man declared himself to be the successor to the Bab. He called himself Baha'ullah, which means the "Glory of God".
Baha'ullah was tortured and imprisoned. He went from Persian to Turkish custody and died in custody in 1892 in Acre.
During his life, Baha'ullah producers a number of books which are considered sacred by the Baha'i faith.
After his death, his son took over the leadership of the Baha'i faith.
He called himself Abdul Baha which means, "Servant of the Glory".
Abdul Baha died in 1921, but appointed his grandson Shoghi Effendi as his successor. Shoghi Effendi had a global vision for the Baha'i faith.
He established a representational system of government and emphasized the publication of Baha'i Scriptures.
Under his leadership, Baha'i became an international religion.
The administration of Baha'i moved into the hands of the nine-membered Universal House of Justice, located in Haifa, Israel.
The members of this group are elected by the National Spiritual Assemblies of each country. There are nine members in these bodies too.
Scriptures
Baha'i accepts the scriptures of all major faiths as holy, inspired writings.
Baha'ullah's writings have a special place as the final revelations. His major writings:
- The Seven Valleys
- The Four Valleys
- The Hidden Words
- The Book of Certitude
- The Most Holy Book
- Tablets of Baha'ullah
Abdul Baha and Shoghi Effendi also wrote books considered scriptural.
Major Beliefs
Baha'i beliefs center on the idea that Baha'ullah was the last of Nine Great Manifestations:
1) Abraham
2) Krishna
3) Moses
4) Zoroaster
5) Buddha
6) Jesus
7) Muhammad
8) The Bab
9) Baha'ullah
Each of these prophets taught God's revelation for their respective age. The revelation expanded with each manifestation.
A convenient way of stating the major beliefs of Baha'i is one list of 10 principles:
1) The oneness of humankind
2) The independent investigation of truth
3) The common foundation of all religions
4) The essential harmony between science and religion
5) The equality of men and women
6) The elimination of prejudices of all kinds
7) Universal compulsory education
8) A spiritual solution to economic problems
9) A universal auxiliary language
10) Universal peace upheld by a world government
Baha'i faith maintains that under the spiritual guidance of Baha'ullah's teachings the world can achieve a utopian state.
Subgroups
There are no major subgroups of Baha'i.
Worship Practices
Communal worship takes place within members' houses.
Worship takes place on the first day of each of the 19 months in the Baha'i calendar.
The 1st day of each of these months are called feast days.
There are no professional clergy.
Baha'i practitioners are often involved in local social action movements and their community worship sessions involve strategy and planning for social action.
Religious buildings
Their large and beautiful temples are properly called "houses of worship".
They function as testimony to faith; they serve as common its centers.
The initial goal was to have a house of worship on every inhabited continent, which has been accomplished. The next step is to have 9 temples and then many more. The present locations:
1) Apia, Western Somoa
2) Delhi, India
3) Frankfurt, Germany
4) Kampala, Uganda
5) Panama City, Panama
6) Sydney Australia
7) Willamette, IL (USA)
Baha'i temples are architecturally beautiful and often have an imposing dome.
Baha'i temples all have nine sides with a door on each side.
Home Practices
Family is extremely important for Baha'i.
A proper Baha'i home is focused on faith.
Chasity before marriage is taught.
Marriage is the opportunity for both partners to develop spiritually.
Every Baha'i practitioner is supposed to read holy scriptures each day and spend time in prayer.
Baha'i membership consists mainly of converts from other religions.
Clothing
Nothing rigorous, there than a basic expectation of modesty.
Diet
Baha'i practitioners cannot partake of alcohol or illegal drugs.
Calendar
Baha'i has its own complex calendar that is essentially superimposed on the Western Gregorian calendar.
It is a solar calendar of 361 days: 19 months with 19 days. There are four special days between the 18th and 19th month.
Baha'i observes a 7-day week with Friday as the sacred day of rest.
Major Holidays (take off work)
March 21 - New Years
April 21-May 2 - Ridvan (off work on 1st, 9th and 12th days)
May 23 - Declaration of the Bab
May 29 - Ascension of Baha'ullah
June 9 - Martyrdom of the Bab
October 29 - Birth of the Bab
November 12 - Birth of Baha'ullah
(Not take off work)
November 26 - Day of the Covent (birth and life of Abdul Baha)
November 28 - Ascension of Abdul Baha
February 26 - March 1 - The extra days of the calendar
March 2 - March 20 - The Fast: no food or drink between sunrise and sunset, a special time for prayer and meditation
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